Men’s Action Series used to be a huge publishing category. The Executioner, the Death Merchant, the Destroyer, and many other series sold millions of copies. One of the best selling series was the Mack Bolan series (aka, The Executioner) published initially by Pinnacle Books and later by Gold Eagle Books. Gold Eagle hired the talented paperback artist, Gil Cohen, to provide the eye-catching covers on their profitable line of Men’s Action novels. Check out some samples below. If you’re a fan of paperback cover artwork, One Man Army: The Action Paperback Art of Gil Cohen is a must-buy! GRADE: A
Can’t say this does much for me. Looks a lot like the illustrations on the covers of men’s magazines in the 50’s and 60’s.
Steve, I think there was a “style” publishers preferred for their Men’s Adventure magazines and paperbacks. It seemed to have made them millions!
I read one Executioner book – the first – but I preferred the goofy Destroyer series. I have to agree with Steve that I’m not that impressed.
Jeff, Gil Cohen is no Robert McGinnis, but he captured the essence of Men’s Adventure artwork. The sales statistics are impressive!
Just out of curiosity I tried a couple of these books way back in the seventies–I think they were in the Executioner series but it could have been the other one. I’d have to say that the artwork is more impressive than the books, but that’s not saying much.
Michael, all of those Men’s Adventure paperbacks followed a formula. But, given the audience these books were marketed to, the formula certainly worked.
Ahhhh, the tawdry dreams of my youth! Thanks for the memories….
Dan, I know guys who used to read these Men’s Adventure paperbacks by the dozen. I was more of a Carter Brown, John D. MacDonald kind of guy.
George me too!
But of course for me it was difficult and expensive to get US paperbacks, so I spent most of my money on SF.
If I wanted a really sexy book I’d read stuff like the Jin Ping Mei which the father of a friend had bought!
Wolf, I would travel into Canada to find some of those great British paperbacks! Hardcovers from England were more scarce.
Not sure I have seen enough of this sort of work to know what ranks high and what is commonplace. I never got much beyond Archie comic books in terms of graphic art.
Patti, I read and loved ARCHIE comics, too!
Cohen not my favorite among this kind of illustrator, either, but these are certainly presentable work. Deis and Doyle love the Men’s Sweat magazines as well as Men’s Adventure paperback series.
Todd, there’s a whole series of books from Deis and Doyle on the Men’s Adventure genre. Nice production work!
Yesterday I was considering ordering a copy of The Art of Pulp Fiction by Ed Hulse that is discounted slightly on Hamilton Books. It’s still an expensive book so I’m wondering if anyone has any comments.
Kent I have THE ART OF PULP FICTION by Ed Hulse on order. Here’s another Ed Hulse book that I reviewed a few years ago: http://georgekelley.org/forgotten-books-448-the-art-of-the-pulps/
Good examples of the Men’s Adventure genre artwork, looks well-produced. I like these kind of art books, and have the Hulse on order too.
Rick, ONE MAN ARMY is a classy production. I enjoy these kind of art books, too!